Invest in Fresh: A Plan for Promoting Healthy Food Retail in Jamestown, New York (2013)

The purpose of this planning studio  was to develop a planning report to improve access to healthy, affordable food in the small city of Jamestown in the rural Chautauqua County in Western New York. Prepared on behalf of the Chautauqua County Health Network, the report aimed to improve the health and wellness of residents as well as respond to the city’s economic challenges. The report highlights three objectives: 1. To assess the food retail environment in the City of Jamestown; 2. To analyze the potential of the city to support additional healthy food retail; and, 3. To outline strategies that create or improve healthy food access and economic development in Jamestown. The studio team found that particular sections of Jamestown had a limited number of food retail locations, few offered healthful food options, and that it was difficult for residents to travel to food retail locations. Recommendation included the creation of a healthy corner stores initiative to improve food access, and the launch of a food policy council to shape and steer policy changes through the existing governance structure. The Chautauqua County Health Network and its partners used the information generated by the report to design and implement a Healthy Corner Store effort in Jamestown.